Wednesday, 1 December 2010

hanukkah

Hanukkah, an eight day event that signifies a Jewish Military victory some two millenia ago, has become the Kosher answer to christmas, something it was never meant to represent. However, because of that or maybe in spite of it? The festival of lights has emerged as an important Jewish moment in pop-culutral expression and exploration.

All of this has cleared the way for the hipster Hanukkah. Eight great moments in Hanukkah-goes-pop history. 1) “My Dreidel” (pre-1950), 2) Hanukkah Harry on “Saturday Night Live” (1989) Who needs Santa Claus when you can have Hanukkah Harry (aka Jon Lovitz), who’s here to reward all the good little Jewish boys and girls with…socks. It took “Saturday Night Live” to give the holiday its first – and maybe only — signature character. Sadly, Harry made it back for just one other “SNL” episode, but his legend endures, 3) “The Hanukkah Song” (1994), 4) “A Rugrats Chanukah” (1996), 5) “The Best Chrismukkah Ever” (2003), 6) “Hanukkah Hey Ya!” (2003), 7) No Limit Texas Dreidel (2007), 8) Dreidel HD (2010).

So a very important and significant period for Jews worldwide as the festival begins tonight.